Squad breakdown: Melbourne Stars Supercoach BBL14 preview

The Melbourne Stars will be looking to break their long-awaited Big Bash title drought this season.

Consistently littered with quality talent year-on-year, the Stars’ three runner-up titles is as close as they’ve come to winning the tournament.

The most recent runner-up mantle was in BBL09, which was also the last time they played finals.

As tends to happen, they’ve landed arguably the most relevant Supercoach draw to begin the new campaign.

They have double game weeks in round 1 and 3, and no bye until round 8.

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Further, they play in game one of round 2 which is ideal for looping purposes.

The line-up of their squad for round 1 remains a major mystery due to the selections of Beau Webster and Scott Boland in Australia’s Test squad, along with Glenn Maxwell’s recent hamstring injury.

At best, all three are touch and go for the Stars opening double game week.

Joe Clarke will only be available for around about the first three games until Ben Duckett returns from international duty, while Pakistani Usama Mir is available from December 26 (round 3).

Due to the masses of potential team changes that could see players in better Supercoach roles (e.g. Maxwell/Webster out would see Hilton Cartwright up the order), you could make a written case for the entire playing XI, but the article won’t end if so.

As such, I’ve left out Cartwright who could be viable come round one, and Joe Clarke who I’m hesitant on as he only plays the opening few rounds, but you could also make a case for him pending how you were approaching your WKP position.

Ditto Sam Harper, he may be a genuine pick up if batting up the order, but he may not even be in the team with Clarke’s arrival.

Rest assured, we’ll cover it all off on the SC Playbook podcast as we near the first ball of the tournament.

Fair to say there’s a bit to keep an eye on for the first team list of the season.

GUNS

Glenn Maxwell // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 83.8 // $247,400

BBL13: 83.8 Supercoach average

BBL12: DNP

BBL11: 63.6

BBL10: 62.6

BBL09: 64.6

BBL08: 60.8

BBL07: 67.3

It’s fair to say Maxy is a rather handy Supercoach asset…

He was as locked in as a must-have as they come, until a pre-season hamstring injury put doubt over his availability for the early stages of the tournament.

Further, it’ll place doubt over whether he bowls for the Stars.

Regardless, I do think he’s still near enough a must if cleared to play with five games in the opening three rounds.

There is a case to anti-POD and go against him though.

If he doesn’t bowl that suggests he’s well overpriced based on his 83.8 average last season.

He averaged 34.71 with a strike-rate of 173.57 with the bat last season, and also took seven wickets with an economy of 8.05 with the ball.

That’s 140 points in wickets alone.

Add in the uncertainty around how the hamstring concern will impact him, along with the chance of reinjury, and there is some risk at the price.

I wouldn’t overthink it and I suggest to just buy and save yourself sleepless nights over the opening rounds, but there is a genuine case to be made to leave him out.

Verdict: Don’t get too cute, buy if fit.

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MID-RANGERS

Beau Webster // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 55.8 // $164,700

Webster was near enough a must-have, but selection in the Australian Test squad has placed doubts over his availability.

He’s averaged 56 Supercoach points the past two seasons, with his role fluctuating with the ball and also moving up and down the order.

He seems to have locked in a spot in the top four though and is more than likely to roll the arm over each game at least for an over or two.

Again, questions over the round 1 team will impact potential overs.

He enters the tournament in excellent form with five of his past 10 scores surpassing 40 runs, including a Shield tonne.

Granted most were in red ball cricket.

He averaged 43.66 at a strike-rate of 114.41 with the bat last season and took six wickets at an economy of 7.25 with the ball.

Verdict: Buy if available

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Tom Curran // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 41.8 // $152,000

Curran is an elite Supercoach asset with his allrounder role.

Like Maxwell and Webster he can figure with bat and ball, the difference is that we know Curran will get his four overs (at the death to boot) and will likely get some late order opportunities with the bat.

Further, we know he’s going to be available for all five games.

He starts cheap due to averages of just 418 and 42.5 in the past two seasons, in just four games each year.

Prior to that though he averaged 71.5 across his 14 matches in BBL09, and 73.0 in 14 matches in BBL08.

He took 16 wickets in nine games in the UK’s Vitality Blast this year, with an outstanding economy of 7.55 while also averaging 20 with the bat at a strike-rate of 157.30.

Verdict: Buy

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CHEAPIES

Marcus Stoinis // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 28.5 // $84,200

I’d wanted to avoid Big Stoin leading into SC BBL14 due to the likelihood of batting at five and uncertainty over his bowling.

He’s cheap for a reason having averaged 28.5, 37.7 and 28.8 Supercoach points in the past three seasons.

Fast-forward six weeks and he’s a genuine must-have.

Availability concerns around Webster and Maxwell could easily see him batting at number four, while it also increases his chances of bowling.

He excelled for Australia recently where he was bowling at the death at stages against Pakistan in the T20 series.

While it feels an age ago for Supercoaches, he averaged a monstrous 96.9 Supercoach points back in BBL08.

He excelled in the recent Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, despite getting little opportunity in the final games.

A dual position international player, at $80k, with the pedigree of Stoin makes him a must-have, just limit expectations when watching.

Verdict: Buy

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Tom Rogers // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 29.7 // $87,700

Price, draw and form all make Tom Rogers an appealing asset.

He has two first-class half-centuries to his name and starts at $87k.

My concern though is that he’s bat only so he’s very risky, and also the issue of owning too many Stars players to begin the season.

Let’s say either of Maxwell or Webster are unavailable in round 1, you’re probably starting three of the above players along with one or two of the cheapie bowlers below.

The Stars have underwhelmed year-on-year, so if they start slow again it could prove costly.

I see the temptation, but I think there’s far better targets.

Verdict: Avoid

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Joel Paris // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 24.4 // $72,200

Mark Steketee // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 9.7 // $79,100

Scott Boland // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 28.7 // $84,700

Hamish McKenzie // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 23.5 // $69,400

I’ll cover off the cheapie bowling contingent in one hit because they all appeal and you could make a genuine case for all.

With Josh Hazlewood injured, Scotty Boland probably stays around the Test squad long-term so you can probably put a line through him for now.

I think Mark Steketee is the pick of them as he may well bowl at the death and pick up cheap wickets, although his biggest asset is that he’s likely locked into the team unlike the others.

Ignore last season where he had little opportunity in three games.

Prior, he had Supercoach averages of 38.3, 61.0, 49.1, 43.7, 31.5 (two games) and 68.4.

He’s the pick of the litter for me.

Paris and McKenzie are also enticing, but job security will be the concern, particularly with Usama Mir entering the fray for the round 3 double.

If we get news that either Maxwell or Webster are unavailable for the opening rounds it’ll aid both their cases a touch, granted they are obviously more bat heavy allrounders.

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Melbourne Stars – Predicted Round 1 team and analysis via Max Bryden

Tom Rogers // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 29.7 // $87,700

Joe Clarke // WKP-BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 37.2 // $117,500

Beau Webster // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 55.8 // $164,700

Glenn Maxwell // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 83.8 // $247,400

Marcus Stoinis // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 28.5 // $84,200

Hilton Cartwright // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 35.4 // $104,600

Tom Curran // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 41.8 // $152,000

Joel Paris // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 24.4 // $72,200

Mark Steketee // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 9.7 // $79,100

Scott Boland // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 28.7 // $84,700

Hamish McKenzie // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 23.5 // $69,400

What preseason has taught us:

No side has had bigger impacts in preseason. Thankfully they play the first game of the year so we should have enough opportunity to plan our sides accordingly. 

Former skipper Glenn Maxwell could miss Round 1 with a hamstring injury. If that unfolds, I see Sam Harper making his way into the Top 3. Thankfully Marcus Stoinis looks to have found his mojo.

Beau Webster rightly earned a spot in the Test squad. I think he’s still a reserve at best and should be released for the BBL where he is sorely needed. Boland on the other hand is unlikely to be released and will give cover to the Test side over the course of the series vs India.

The signing of Peter Siddle creates uncertainty around every other pace bowler not named Tom Curran – pick them at your peril. 

Cheapie prospect Hamish McKenzie is their leading spinner until Mir arrives but with so many allrounders isn’t guaranteed his overs.

Changes since last season:

New Internationals should bring new hope for the Stars. Glenn Maxwell’s demotion from captain as well could change their playing style.

Ben Duckett was the number 1 draft pick and should take the gloves for the Stars to complement his opening batting. That’s a pretty juicy role but he will miss the first couple of rounds.

The risk with the Stars has always been the multitude of bowling options. With so much choice, it’s hard to rely on players getting their full allotment.